When Amazon raised the prices of most of its Kindle devices final month—some by additional than 30%—it looked akin a reply to the ongoing RAM crisis, but it may have additionally have been a bit of clever timing: Today, the business has announced a near-total overhaul of its row of e-readers, which are now thinner, lighter, faster, and additional thoughtfully designed than ever, and as we've all already absorbed the cost hike, there's no bitter pill to swallow alongside the news.
Certainly, the new Kindles are beautiful devices: The complete lineup, from the $150 entry-level Kindle to the $319 Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, now features a new flush-front design. An upgraded norm Kindle and the pricier Signature Editions now have an aluminium back, giving them a premium awareness and allowing for a new row of magnetic accessories. And all of the devices are, according to Amazon, the fastest ever, alongside a promised 30% quicker leaf turns.
Yesterday, Amazon welcomed Lifehacker and a figure of another tech sites to its agency to inspect out the new lineup, and during I can say that these are effortlessly the prettiest Kindles ever—available in a figure of trendy new colors—they are additionally motionless mostly fair Kindles: improved, to be sure, but not really new. That's why I'm additional enthusiastic by the accompanying lineup of accessories, including a new case alongside unified bodily buttons and, at lengthy last, a Bluetooth page-turner remote.
The norm Kindle now feels additional premium
As before, the revamped Kindles are being sold in a few distinct variations, several (much) pricier than others. The "cheapest" is the norm 16GB Kindle, priced at $149.99 alongside fastener display ads and $169.99 without ads, which retains the identical essential features, including a six-inch, 300ppi touchscreen and an adjustable forefront light, but in the revamped, flush-front design, and a bunch of snazzy new colors, from a blue "Alpine Sky" to a lavender "Ube." (Kevin Keith, Amazon's vice chairman in accusation of Kindle, stated the business was shocked at the reply to the match-colored Kindle it released a few years ago—it represented additional than 50% of equipment sales—so it's unsurprising to see it doubling down.)
For the archetypal time, there is additionally a premium type of the norm Kindle alongside 32GB of retention and an aluminium casing, additionally in the identical range of colors (including a refined-looking metal graphite). This type is priced at $189.99 without fastener display ads, which method you're paying $20 additional for twice the storage, which isn't too bad in 2026.
Amazon's boasting of lighter (around 140g) and thinner (6.8mm) builds and "30% faster leaf turns" aside, the new Kindles aren't that much distinct than the old ones, not that I'm complaining: Nearly 20 years following it was archetypal introduced, the Kindle remains the aureate norm of e-readers in many ways. Though I'm a fan of competing devices in different sizes or alongside open Android functioning systems, on a hardware level, Amazon is motionless on top.
The redesigned Kindles (which are additionally accessible in Kindle Kids version that includes a one-year warranty, a liberated subscription to Kindle Kids+, and a colorful protective case for $179.99) can be ordered today for contiguous shipping.
The new Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft Signature editions are totally metal
The aluminium scheme of the upgraded Kindle has been carried throughout to the pricier versions of the Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft. The erstwhile is formerly again being sold in a textured synthetic scheme alongside fastener display ads and 16GB of retention for $199.99, or an aluminium-backed "Signature Edition," minus ads and alongside 32GB of storage, for $249.99—though lone the second is accessible in the new Seaglass Green color.
The Kindle Colorsoft is likewise accessible in two versions: For $289.99, the standard Colorsoft offers 32GB of retention and the new flush-front design. If you desire the aluminium back, you'll need to fountain for the $319.99 Signature Edition, which additionally has 32GB of retention and is accessible in a profound red "Fig" color. On the affirmative side, all versions of the Colorsoft are sold without fastener display ads.
Here's the bad news: You'll have to delay if you desire among the new Paperwhites or Colorsofts. The devices are accessible for preorder now and volition container Oct. 28. (There are Kindle Kids options for these devices, too.)
The accessories really recommendation item new (or new again)
As noted, as nice as they are, the redesigned devices motionless appearance and awareness a lot akin the old ones, particularly formerly you're immersed in a book. But the accessories the business additionally unveiled today really recommendation item new, or at smallest bring rear item old.
The Page-Turn Cover turns your Paperwhite into an Oasis
While it has been years since Amazon sold a Kindle alongside bodily page-turn buttons (RIP to the cherished Kindle Oasis), there's a new case choice for the aluminium-backed Signature Editions of the Paperwhite and Colorsoft that Amazon is calling the Page-Turn Cover. This case magnetically attaches to those devices, connecting to the pogo pins on the back, and adds two page-turn buttons to one flank of the device. Like magic, and without adding much in the way of weight, the Page-Turn Cover makes it awareness akin your Kindle has genuine buttons again.
It's an elegant resolution to a niche problem—Amazon reports that lone about 5% of readers are passionate concerning bodily buttons, so this way, everyone can be happy...provided paying an additional $80 for a case for your $250+ e-reader doesn't create you too unhappy. The Page-Turn Cover (available in distinct colors that equivalent the new devices) volition container Oct. 28.
Finally, the Kindle supports a Bluetooth remote
Physical page-turn buttons need not be attached to your device, since for the archetypal time, the complete Kindle lineup now supports a Bluetooth distant for turning pages at the click of a clasp alternatively of a tap on the display (competing e-readers have supported akin remotes for years, but Amazon has blocked that functionality until now).
The idea rearward these things is to provision you the capability to peruse your publish without really holding the Kindle in your hands, whether since you have a movement matter that makes that difficult, or since you're on a treadmill or keeping cozy under the covers. Called the Kindle Click, the distant is priced at $34.99 and volition container in November.
A charging dock to brace alongside your new remote
Finally, Amazon is additionally launching a new charging dock that volition prop up your Paperwhite or Colorsoft vertically, providing a additional hands-free study experience, particularly whenever paired alongside the Click. The dock isn't up for preorder yet, but it volition disbursal $59.99.
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